CINCINNATI -- Jarred Evans came to Cincinnati hoping to earn the starting quarterback job at the University of Cincinnati. Whether Evans ever plays another game for the Bearcats is in jeopardy.
Evans was arrested over the weekend on a misdemeanor assault charge following an altercation near the UC campus. He was arraigned in Hamilton County Municipal Court on Monday and freed on $2,000 bail and told not to have any contact with the alleged victim, Ryan Smith. According to a police report, Smith suffered a concussion and head laceration.
Evans is suspended from the team indefinitely, said head coach Tommy Tuberville,
"He won't be on the team, practicing, meetings, any of that stuff until he clears his name," said Tuberville. "There's a good chance he's not guilty and, if that is correct, then he'll be back."
Details of the case are still being investigated and sorted out but Evans isn't the first UC player suspended from the team this season. Freshman cornerback Alex Thomas is also suspended from the team after being charged with obstruction on Sept. 14 when police were called to an off-campus party with reports of gun fire.
Altercations and incidents involving police happen to people every day. When it involves an athlete, it becomes news because of their own visibility and the visibility of their team.
"I talk to these guys everyday about you being a lot more responsible than any other person on campus," said Tuberville. "They understand that and right or wrong, football players, basketball players, athletes across the country are guilty until proven innocent, even in my eyes, because you're in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Evans and senior Munchie Legaux were sharing the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind starter Gunner Kiel. Evans isn't the passer that Kiel is but is a greater threat to run the ball and has been used as a change of pace to Kiel. Evans played in four games, including last Saturday's 41-3 win at SMU. He attempted just five passes, completing two for 10 yards. He also ran the ball 22 times for 110 yards and one touchdown.
Legaux is now the backup.
The consequences of Evans actions could go well beyond the field.
"Everyone is held accountable for what they do and if you get your name in the paper, even if you're not guilty, you're suspended until you prove yourself because you're in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Tuberville. "It's a good way to lose a scholarship, a good way to lose your career, your education and all that. But, it's decisions young kids make, they always make them. We've had problems at schools that I've coached at and played at.
"There are problems every day at other schools and we'll have problems here. It's just hard to get through their heads that you are different than everybody else. You can't even think about making a mistake or even being close to a mistake. Even if it's not your fault, you're still implicated. So, that's how we handle it and I hope our players on the team see that and understand that and we'll go from there."
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